The Norwegian government has proposed a law that will hold banks, credit card companies and electronic purses liable when they process payment transactions between consumer and online gaming operators.

Online gambling in Norway is already banned, but such ban has proved to be little effective if citizen can continue to play on foreign websites. The ban on financial transactions is an effective means to stop online gambling and was already introduced last year in the United States. Other countries are considering the same approach.

The Norwegian ban will enter into force somewhere in the middle of next year.